Chapter Five: The Outbreak of War

As the saying goes, “Though the sparrow is small, it possesses all its vital organs.” This modestly scaled selection race was no exception—its rules were drafted almost entirely in accordance with those of formal competitions.

The regulations governing the race cars were no different, either. Though only stock cars were permitted, the organizers enforced restrictions on horsepower and displacement with a strictness that bordered on the draconian. Coupled with mandatory vehicle inspections before and after the race, any illusions of cutting corners harbored by a few hopeful teams were thoroughly dispelled.

Inside the pit garage of the Star Racing Team, Mo Shu, Wang Yining, and two stock cars under the American Allrounder brand were already prepared for action. For a novice like Mo Shu, debuting with a sports model from an American luxury marque, there was a trace of reluctance in his heart. He could not help but circle his car, running his hands gently over its surface.

Wang Yining noticed his hesitation and smiled. “Alright now, no need to be sentimental. Motorsport is a money pit to begin with. This is just the Elite Production Group. Once we step up to the Super Production Group, the modification costs for a single car will be enough to buy ten of these.”

Mo Shu, a long-time racing enthusiast, was well aware of the basics. He replied with a smile as well, “It’s not the price I’m attached to. It’s just that this stock car may only make it through the selection race before it gets torn apart and overhauled for the Super Production Group. Thinking about how it’ll be stripped down and rebuilt after just a short run with me—well, it makes me a little wistful.”

Wang Yining’s pretty face twitched at his words. Known as the “most promising female driver in history,” hailed for surpassing the men of her generation, she had already been somewhat reluctant to join the Star team as the number two driver. Now, this seemingly green boy was boasting right in front of her—how annoying!

“Well, such ambition is admirable,” Wang Yining replied, doing her best to remain polite.

“To be honest, I wouldn’t even call it ambition,” Mo Shu said, emboldened by her presence despite his usual reserve. “My dream is to dominate the world of motorsport.” The words escaped him before he could stop them, and he instantly regretted it.

“…”

Wang Yining raised her eyebrows, an unmistakable awkwardness flickering across her face. Mo Shu’s palms broke out in sweat. Twice now! He’d made a fool of himself twice! How could he be so foolish?

“The qualifying session is about to begin. All teams, please prepare,” the announcer’s voice echoed through the pit lane. Mo Shu seized this lifeline to escape the awkwardness; with his nerves in shambles, any further explanation would likely only make things worse. He clamped his lips shut, lowered his head, and dove into the cockpit.

Wang Yining was not overly bothered. Everyone needs a dream—ambition drives effort—and a little bravado from Mo Shu was harmless enough. She simply preferred those who spoke less and did more. Not wanting to affect her teammate’s mood, Wang Yining bent down, resting a hand on Mo Shu’s window as she offered a gentle reminder.

“The rules for this qualifying session are simple: thirty minutes to clock your fastest lap. Do your best to grab pole position.”

Mo Shu felt much relieved but, wary of putting his foot in his mouth again, nodded vigorously without saying a word. His flustered look made Wang Yining nearly laugh out loud.

The broadcast sounded again. “Qualifying has officially begun. The track is now open. Time limit…”

Engines roared to life all at once—eight teams, eleven cars, each firing up their engines in turn.

On the stands, eager fans craned their necks in anticipation. Though the local favorite, the Kunsheng Team, had no drivers competing today, their archrival, Jiangbei Civic Racing, had a new driver ready to take the stage.

Jiangbei Civic Racing was last season’s runner-up—a renowned factory team. Before Kunsheng seized the crown, they had dominated the GTCC for five consecutive years. In last year’s final race, the cars from Kunsheng and Jiangbei Civic collided fiercely while battling for position. The stewards, however, penalized only Jiangbei Civic, stripping them of their results for a rules infraction.

This controversial decision allowed Kunsheng Team to overtake on both the drivers’ and teams’ standings, leapfrogging to the top and clinching a dramatic, repeat GTCC championship. It was clear that Jiangbei Civic had been left with a bitter taste of defeat. This year, they promoted a secret weapon they had been grooming for years—the so-called “super racing prodigy” Geng Hua, who had reached the level of a top domestic driver at the age of sixteen.

Just two weeks ago, in the practice session for the GTCC’s new season opener, Jiangbei Civic first sent Geng Hua out on track. Appearing in the public eye for the first time, Geng Hua showed no signs of stage fright and astonishingly set the fastest lap time of the event, shocking not only the other teams but his own as well.

Under immense pressure, Jiangbei Civic Racing made the bold move of swapping their current number two driver with the reserve driver, Geng Hua. For several days, their photos dominated the headlines of national sports media—testament to the significance of this news.

From obscurity to the center of attention, Geng Hua had yet to complete a single official race but was already feeling the weight of tremendous expectations. He entered the selection race to gain more experience with the team and car before the next GTCC round.

The rules for this qualifying session allowed each team to choose their own start time. Each driver would leave the pit, with the first and third laps serving as out and in laps, and only the second lap counting for time. So, just as Mo Shu exited the pit, he heard the team radio announce that Geng Hua had set the fastest lap yet again.

With the exception of Jiangbei Civic, every pit garage was in an uproar. Some even grumbled, “He’s already a GTCC driver—what’s the point of competing with us for positions?”

Only Zhang Aimin, the acting team manager, stood apart from the others. “Quiet, everyone! Mo Shu is about to start his timed lap!” he barked.

Indeed, no matter what others achieved, setting one’s own fastest time was what mattered most. Mo Shu and Zhang Aimin were of one mind.

“Uncle Zhang, I’m about to run my lap,” Mo Shu reported his status, quickly reviewing all his skills in his mind. In truth, only “Endurance Overdrive” and “Enhanced Driving Technique” were useful for competition, and the former wasn’t well-suited for a short qualifying session.

“It’s up to you! Enhanced Driving Technique!” Mo Shu pressed his lips together and activated the skill in his heart.

The instant he triggered the skill, Mo Shu’s perception shifted. Through the window, the scenery that should have been racing past the track now seemed to slow to a crawl. His left foot, accustomed to civilian driving, unconsciously moved to the brake, while his right foot pressed harder on the accelerator.

The revs soared, the engine roared like a beast, and the tachometer repeatedly hit the redline before shifting up. Yet Mo Shu felt the car still wasn’t accelerating fast enough.

“Could there be something wrong with the car?” Mo Shu wondered anxiously, having just taken the first corner with excruciating slowness.

Meanwhile, in the various pit garages, among the crowd and up in the stands, as well as Geng Hua—who had just set the fastest lap and was watching the screens—people began to exclaim in near-unison across the venue.

“Who is that? That’s insane!”

Unaware of the commotion, Mo Shu sliced through the first straight and corner at over 130 kilometers per hour with a perfect racing line.

Bear in mind, this was a stock car, running on a full set of factory components, including four very ordinary street tires with mediocre grip—a setup even professional drivers were loath to push to such limits.

“That’s way too risky. What a hothead!” The crowd buzzed with speculation.

Even Zhang Aimin fell silent for a moment. Such driving was too aggressive—almost as if he only knew how to accelerate and not how to brake.

The real test, though, was yet to come. With turn five, the hairpin, approaching, would Mo Shu attempt such “reckless” driving there as well?

As expected, the number 32 car stuck to its style, surging forward without compromise, making every member of the Star Racing Team hold their breath.

After a series of three sweeping bends, the car blasted out of turn four, unleashing the American machine’s formidable torque and shooting forward like a bolt of lightning.

“Slow down, Mo Shu!” Zhang Aimin’s eyes were glued to the monitor, his voice low and urgent. Several female staff members nervously covered their eyes.

The timing system displayed a real-time speed of 152 kilometers per hour.

At that speed, entering the hairpin could lead to a catastrophic loss of grip at the apex, sending the car out of control and possibly even flipping it.

Yet, to everyone’s astonishment, the number 32 car, still on the straight before the corner, suddenly swung its body sideways and slid nearly perpendicular into the apex. The engine’s roar never faltered, showing that Mo Shu hadn’t lifted off the throttle. The nose of the car pointed toward the inner curb, the car itself dancing right on the edge of disaster, masterfully controlled.

Drifting?!

Maniac!!!

Few could believe their eyes. Drifting through corners was all but extinct in modern circuit racing.

Zhang Aimin suddenly understood, pounding his thigh and allowing a rare, admiring smile to break his tense expression.

This kid is a genius!

Since the street tires lacked grip anyway, why not turn this weakness into an advantage and use high-speed drifting for maximum efficiency?

Inside the car, Mo Shu was just as surprised as everyone else. When had he learned to run the racing line? When had he learned to drift? It was all so miraculous!

More puzzling was the sense that, despite everything, the car still didn’t feel fast. Yet Zhang Aimin’s voice over the team comms was so excited and encouraging.

“Host, stop overthinking! Your sensory and technical improvements come from the system’s skill enhancements. Just focus on racing and claim the victory!” The system finally spoke up, unable to tolerate Mo Shu’s distracted mind.

“Got it, thanks, system!”

Mo Shu didn’t have time to analyze it further, but he had a feeling that the moment to set his own record had arrived.

Nanshan Circuit wasn’t long—one of the shorter tracks in the GTCC—so it had relatively few corners, exactly fifteen, with turn five being the most challenging. Having conquered it, Mo Shu went all out, attacking each corner as if in a rally, striking fear into the hearts of all who watched.

Unfortunately, he could not feel the thrill of blazing speed, but the seamless, intuitive control brought him a different kind of joy.

As the car deftly rounded the final bend and burst onto the main straight, Mo Shu finally remembered the speedometer.

181 kilometers per hour!

He’d heard of slow glass, but never slow retinas. Mo Shu could only shake his head in resignation.

“Wow! Look, that’s car number 32—the driver’s name is Mo Shu!”

After he crossed the timing line, a spectator in the stands pointed at the big screen and shouted. Everyone turned to look.

“My god!!!”

The crowd erupted in an even louder, more astonished cry.

Up on the race display, a bold message flashed:

“Star Racing Team’s number 32 driver, Mo Shu, has set a new fastest lap record for this circuit.”